Outsourcing Software Development: MVP, Proof of Concept (POC) and Prototyping. Which is better?
Last updated: August 22, 2024 Read in fullscreen view
Recommended for you
- 01 Oct 2020
Fail fast, learn faster with Agile methodology 864 - 18 Oct 2020 How to use the "Knowns" and "Unknowns" technique to manage assumptions 813
- 16 Jun 2022 Rapid Application Development (RAD): Pros and Cons 759
- 14 Oct 2021 Advantages and Disadvantages of Time and Material Contract (T&M) 703
- 15 Oct 2022 Project-based team model for one-off and pilot software development projects 672
- 19 Oct 2021 Is gold plating good or bad in project management? 672
- 20 Jan 2021 Fail early, fail often, fail cheap, fail safe but always fail forward 614
- 19 Oct 2021 Software development life cycles 614
- 28 Jul 2022 POC, Prototypes, Pilots and MVP: What's the differences? 523
- 08 Oct 2022 KPI - The New Leadership 514
- 19 Apr 2021 7 Most Common Time-Wasters For Software Development 513
- 21 Jun 2021 6 Useful Tips To Streamline Business Processes and Workflows 476
- 18 Jul 2021 How To Ramp Up An Offshore Software Development Team Quickly 454
- 12 Oct 2022 14 Common Reasons Software Projects Fail (And How To Avoid Them) 444
- 19 Mar 2021 Selective Outsourcing of IT Functions - a new trend in business outsourcing 443
- 16 Dec 2021 Why outsource Python development of your project? 432
- 08 Feb 2022 Software Development: Fixed Cost or Opportunity Cost? 412
- 19 Oct 2020 The hidden costs of outsourcing software development 408
- 28 Dec 2021 8 types of pricing models in software development outsourcing 388
- 20 Jan 2022 TIGO Self-Organization Practice: Change Management Workflow 386
- 10 May 2021 What are things you should look for in a good IT outsourcing company? 380
- 03 Oct 2020 Outsourcing Your MVP Development - Streamlined Solutions for future 373
- 14 Dec 2021 The Top 10 Problems with Outsourcing Implementation and How to Solve Them 364
- 31 Oct 2021 Tips to Fail Fast With Outsourcing 359
- 11 Jan 2024 What are the Benefits and Limitations of Augmented Intelligence? 357
- 15 Aug 2021 TIGO Rate Formula - Things the partners should know 353
- 12 May 2021 The Real Cost Between Outsourcing IT vs In-House: A Quick Comparison 348
- 06 Oct 2021 Intellectual property issues with outsourcing software development 345
- 28 Oct 2022 Build Operate Transfer (B.O.T) Model in Software Outsourcing 340
- 23 Sep 2021 INFOGRAPHIC: Top 9 Software Outsourcing Mistakes 338
- 12 Dec 2021 Zero Sum Games Agile vs. Waterfall Project Management Methods 335
- 11 Nov 2021 What is an IT Self-service Portal? Why is it Important to Your Business? 330
- 01 Sep 2019 Outsourcing Software To Vietnam: Facts, benefits and limitations 326
- 13 Feb 2021 Why is TIGOSOFT a software house for Enterprise Application Development? 325
- 10 Dec 2023 Pain points of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) 322
- 24 Nov 2021 What is the Actual Cost of Hiring Cheap Developers? 320
- 06 Feb 2021 Why fail fast and learn fast? 311
- 22 Mar 2022 8 Mistakes Marketing Agencies or Consulting Firms Make When Outsourcing Web Development 307
- 05 Mar 2021 How do you minimize risks when you outsource software development? 305
- 03 Nov 2021 7 phases of Odoo Implementation and Development: Can they be outsourced? 300
- 13 Oct 2021 Why Outsourcing Software Development Services Is Gaining Traction With Non-Technical Leaders? 289
- 03 Apr 2021 How digital asset management streamlines your content workflow? 288
- 31 Dec 2021 Outsourcing Software Development to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 284
- 01 Jan 2023 4 New IT Outsourcing Pricing Models to consider in 2023 282
- 04 Oct 2021 Product Validation: The Key to Developing the Best Product Possible 280
- 21 Oct 2021 Advantages and Disadvantages of IT Outsourcing 280
- 13 Dec 2020 Move fast, fail fast, fail-safe 280
- 12 Oct 2021 Vietnam outsourcing path - the silk road connecting ASEAN with the developed countries (EU, US, Japan...) 279
- 25 Nov 2021 Low-Cost Software Development: Buy Nice or Buy Twice? 267
- 02 Nov 2021 [Case Study] Streamlined Data Reporting using Tableau 264
- 02 Mar 2021 Estimate the Cost of Software Development 262
- 04 Jan 2021 VIETNAM AS A BIG ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION IN THE FIELD OF OUTSOURCING 260
- 03 Nov 2022 Top questions and answers you must know before ask for software outsourcing 253
- 01 Mar 2022 Top 5 reasons why outsourcing to Vietnam is a smart move 252
- 12 Jan 2023 Top 10 Trustworthy IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 250
- 17 Feb 2022 Prioritizing Software Requirements with Kano Analysis 244
- 04 Oct 2022 Which ERP implementation strategy is right for your business? 242
- 05 Jan 2022 What Outsourcing Engagement Model is Right For You? 242
- 08 Oct 2024 Vietnam: The Rising Star in Global Outsourcing – Trends and Costs for 2025 237
- 01 Jan 2023 Top 5 IT outsourcing countries in 2023 235
- 01 Apr 2021 IT Outsourcing to vietnam: Why It Is A Good Choice? 235
- 01 Jan 2023 Top Software Development Challenges in 2023 229
- 21 Aug 2022 Forbes: IT Outsourcing Hotspot: Vietnam, A Small But Mighty Powerhouse 227
- 18 Aug 2022 What are the consequences of poor requirements with software development projects? 224
- 10 Mar 2021 The 7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid Before Outsourcing a Web Development Project 219
- 10 May 2021 Project Audit and Second Opinion Services 218
- 06 Nov 2019 How to Access Software Project Size? 215
- 01 Jan 2023 Software Development Outsourcing Trends to Watch Out for in 2023 210
- 16 Mar 2021 Outsource Data Engineering Services - TIGO Streamlined Solutions 209
- 01 Oct 2022 Vietnam is a favorite supply of IT outsourcing services to Japan 205
- 10 Nov 2022 Poor Code Indicators and How to Improve Your Code? 200
- 04 Apr 2024 Unlock Vietnamese-Japanese outsourcing potential 199
- 01 Dec 2023 Laws of Project Management 195
- 02 Dec 2022 Success Story: Satsuki - Sales Management Software, back office app for School Subscription Management 194
- 31 Aug 2022 What are the best practices for software contract negotiations? 194
- 11 Mar 2023 Common Pain Points in Software Development Outsourcing 191
- 26 Dec 2023 Improving Meeting Effectiveness Through the Six Thinking Hats 180
- 21 Oct 2022 Outsourcing Billable Rate 179
- 03 Sep 2022 The secret of software success: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication 177
- 02 Nov 2023 What are the pros and cons of iIT outsourcing? 175
- 01 Jan 2023 Why is Vietnam the Top IT Outsourcing Destination of 2023? 174
- 01 Mar 2023 Bug Prioritization - What are the 5 levels of priority? 171
- 17 Oct 2020 How Outsourcing can Improve Time Management for Better Business 169
- 08 Aug 2021 Why Nearshore Software Development is better than In-House Development? 167
- 01 Feb 2023 [InfoWorld] Is your outsourcer agile enough? 165
- 01 May 2024 Warren Buffett’s Golden Rule for Digital Transformation: Avoiding Tech Overload 164
- 06 Nov 2023 How do you streamline requirement analysis and modeling? 160
- 13 Jan 2023 What are the Hourly Rates in Offshore Software Development? 156
- 09 Jan 2021 How can outsourcing enable business agility? 153
- 01 Jan 2024 What The World Is Flat Means to IT Outsourcing 149
- 03 Jan 2023 IT Outsourcing Costs: Is outsourcing really cost-effective? 147
- 01 May 2023 Streamline Your Business with Outsourcing 145
- 01 Jan 2024 Tech Partnerships: Choosing the Right Software Outsourcing Firm in Vietnam 144
- 01 Jan 2024 Hiring Tech Talents in Asia: An Overview of Skills, Costs, and Potential 142
- 01 Jan 2024 The pros and cons of the Centralized Enterprise Automation Operating model 142
- 05 Sep 2023 The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects 140
- 08 Jan 2024 Outsourcing on an As-Needed Basis 136
- 01 Jan 2024 12 reasons for software development outsourcing 135
- 17 Jan 2024 What are the benefits and challenges of using multi-sourcing or single-sourcing strategies? 134
- 15 Nov 2023 IT Staff Augmentation Types and the Best Choice for Your Business 133
- 05 Jan 2024 Easy ASANA tips & tricks for you and your team 132
- 01 Jan 2024 Software Outsourcing Questions for 2024 132
- 28 Oct 2022 Expect the unexpected in 2023 - How Outsourcing Can Help? 132
- 07 Nov 2024 Outsourcing Crisis Looming: Will Trump's Policies Transform the Global IT Landscape? 130
- 10 Jan 2024 Facts Chart: Reasons for outsourcing 119
- 06 Mar 2024 [SemRush] What Are LSI Keywords & Why They Don‘t Matter 111
- 09 Sep 2022 Close Collaboration and Communication Can Overcome the Challenges of Distributed Teams 109
- 12 Mar 2024 How do you create FOMO in software prospects? 97
- 14 Mar 2024 Why should you opt for software localization from a professional agency? 85
- 02 May 2021 Outsourcing Software Development: Avoid 8 Mistakes 81
- 12 Aug 2024 Understanding Google Analytics in Mumbai: A Beginner's Guide 70
- 21 Aug 2025 Top 30 Oldest IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 53
- 01 Jun 2025 10 Sustainable & Unique IT Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam 51
What are the differences and when do you need them?
Proof of Concept, Prototype, and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) are the three most common words you will hear during any software development. Each of those words describes a version of a finished product but at different stages of completion so it is very easy to get confused.
This post will guide all CTOs and Product Owners to learn how to start their software development. Having know-how of these three words is very important as these terms help in planning and defining the project. It is the most important part of the software development process.
So, let’s get started.
Proof of Concept (POC) - Everything You Need to Know
Here we will explain POC in detail from its definition to uses and benefits.
What is Proof of Concept in IT?
A proof of concept is a bare-bones feasibility test of your central premise that determines whether or not an idea can be achieved.
A proof of concept only covers a portion of our potential product. Many POCs that discuss each of the features and functionality can thoroughly evaluate a complex idea.
What are the Main Points of POC?
The main points of POC are:
- The concept addresses the basic question: Can a product be built or not?
- It tests the assumption for the real-life final product
- It helps to define the idea, functionality, feasibility of a product
- It is a theoretical demo to see if the product is possible
When to use Proof of Concept?
#1: When you are Upgrading your Product with Latest Technology
At this point, a proof-of-concept helps you to assess the new feature's viability without putting the company at risk.
#2: When you are Boosting an Existing Technology
POC can help to determine which option is the best. It is possible to test hypotheses without actually designing a product. This helps businesses save valuable time and money.
#3: When you are using Third-Party Solution for your Project
Using a third-party solution is often risky, so conducting a feasibility check before deciding on a solution will save you a lot of time. A perfect example would be integrating a payment system into your app. Before you begin integrating the solution, make sure the technology is feasible.
Top 3 Advantages of Proof of Concept
The top 3 advantages of POC are as follow:
1. Project Managers can Identify Potential Risks and Hurdles
Creating a proof of concept helps project managers in identifying potential threats and barriers in the development process. Managers should predict challenges and schedule their projects accordingly while still planning, rather than discovering them before or after the product release. It helps them to eliminate risks and obstacles.
While the POC cannot guarantee a smooth execution of project management fundamentals, it can improve the product's chances of success.
2. Helps Develop Feasibility Report for Stakeholders
Before project managers may ask for funds for their plan, they must first convince their stakeholders that the investment is worthwhile.
They will demonstrate the idea's usability and viability through POCs. They can clearly illustrate the benefits of the proposed product to the company's operations, brand image, and customer relations, among other things.
3. Project Leaders can Forecast Future Chances for Scalability
When project managers consider developing a product, they and their stakeholders almost always expect it to be scaled up. As a result, project managers may use POCs to check the viability of a concept and its scalability, whether it is done immediately or over time. When in the proposal stage, POCs will assist project managers in addressing scope creep.
Final Note
Product development is like experimenting with a vision in mind. The process starts with placing the foundation right to create a POC and Prototype, supported by MVP. As discussed above, we have tried to erase the thin line between minimum viable product vs proof of concept vs Prototype and their role in validating a product.
The POC helps clear your doubts about the feasibility of the idea. Prototype clears the doubts about the UX design and look of the product. And, minimum viable product helps gain continuous user feedback that forms the foundation for the full product.
You can choose one or even the combination of three to beat the odds of product development failure! If you have any further inquiries related to POC, Prototype and MVP development services, you can contact MVP app development company to get started.
Explore more on these topics
Guest Blogging: The Definitive Guide
Top Trending Topics
Share This
Recently Updated News
